St Louis November 18th 1831To the Hon. William C Carr Judge of the Circuit
Court within & for the County of St Louis

Your petitioner
John by his friend Margarett represents
to your honour that his mother was born at
in the state of Missouri where she remained some time
and was then taken to the State of Illinois about fifteen
years since and during her residence there your peti
tioner was born between twelve and thirteen years ago
that he with his mother or a short
time after his birth were taken to the State of Miss
ouri where they remained about one year and were
taken again to Illinois and to in said State
where your petitioner was sold and has ever since
remained until brought to the City of St. Louis a few
days since by William Campbell who has for several
years past and does now hold and restrain your
petitioner as a slave your petitioner further
to that said Campbell as he says is on his way to
with your petitioner to Washington City but he
has reason to fear he may be him to
New Orleans for sale- Therefore your petitioner says
he may be permitted to sue as a poor person that
he may establish his right to his freedom and tho
such other and further orders may be made in the
premises as the Law and as to your Honor
sum meet

John by his next
Marshall

County of St Louis
State of Missouri ss

This day personally appeared before
me Partrick of the peace withinand
for the County of St. Louis and State of Missouri
a woman of lawful age who being duly sworn upon
his oath days that the facts stated in the above petition
are true

Susan her
mark Sworn to and petitioned before
me this 19th day of November
A.D. 1831 Patrick Marsh
Justice of the peace
St Louis County

State of Missouri
Third Judicial Circuit Court

It is hereby ordered that the within named
petitioner John be permitted to sue as a poor person
by his next friend to establish he his
right to freedom and Stephen W . Foreman is assigned
as his counsel. It is moreover ordered, that the
said John have reasonable liberty to attend
his counsel when occasion may require, and
that he be not subjected to any severity on
account of his application for freedom, nor
removed out of the jurisdiction of this court
pending the suit

Given under my hand this 19 Novr 1831 Will C Carr To the clerk of the
Circuit Court St Louis

State of Missouri
County of St. Louis
Circuit Court March Term 1832

John a minor of Color by his friend
Marganett Complains of William Compbell of
a plea of tresspass Vi etamis for that the said William
Compbell on the seventeenth day of November in the
year Eighteen hundred thirty one with force and
arms made an assault upon the said John at the County
of St Louis in the State of Missouri and then and there
beat bruised and ill treated him the said John and then
and there kept an him the said John in prison with
out any reasonable or probable cause for a long
time to wit for the space of twenty four hour there
next following; and nevertheless the said John avers
that before and at the time of committing the

aforesaid greveances he was and now is a free
person and that the said Campbell then held and detained
him and still holds and detains him in slavery con
trary to the laws of the land and against the will
of the plaintiff and other wrongs the said Cam
pbell then and there did to the said John against the & of the State & to his
damage wherefore the said John saith that he is injured
andhath sustained damage to the amount of five hun
dred dollars and therefore he sues &C

W

The State of Missouri
County of Saint Louis ss.To the Sheriff of the County of Saint Louis Greeting

We command you to summon William Campbell that he be and
appear before the Judge of our Circuit Court at the next March term
thereof to be held at the City of St Louis within and for the County of
Saint Louis on the fourth Monday of March next then and there to
answer unto John a minor of color by his next friend Margaret Sarpee
of a plea of trespass wherefore the said John saith he is injured and
hath sustained damage to the amount of Five hundred dollars and
have you then there this writ

Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk of our said Circuit
Court at Office this nineteenth day of November
One thousand Eight Hundred and thirty one Archibald Gamble Clerk

Served this writ on Wm Campbell
the defendant by reading it & the
declaration to him on 19th day of
November 1831 in the city of St Louis
I also read to him the petition &
the of the Judge reason
at the time

K Walker
Sheriff $ 1.00

State of Missouri Third Judicial circuit to writ

It is hereby ordered that the within
named petitioner John be permitted to sue as a poor person by Margaritte Sarpee
his next friend to establish his right to freedom and Stephen W Foreman is assigned
as his counsel- It is moreover ordered that the said John have reasonable liberty to
attend his counsel when occasion may require and that he be not subjected to any
severity on account of his application for freedom nor removed out of the Jurisdiction
of this court pending the - Given under my hand this 19 of Nov 1831 Will C Carr

The above is a true copy of the order of the Judge as endorsed on the
petition- n Archd Gamble Clerk

No 6 Saint Louis Circuit Court
March Term 1832

John
vs
William Campbell

The Clerk well
a in

W Foreman
attyFiled 19th November 1831 Archibald Gamble Clerk

By the HabeasCorpus Act State of Missouri
County of St Louis
ssThe State of Missouri
To the Sheriff of the County of St Louis Greeting

We Patrick Walsh and Peter Ferguson two Justices of
the peace within and for the County of St Louis aforesaid in the State
of Missouri , Command you that the body of John a Coloured
boy, in the gaol of the said County, under your
detained, under and Secure Conduct, together with the
day and the Cause of his being taken and detained by whatsoever
name
the said John may be charged in the
Same, you have before us at the office of Peter Ferguson
in the City of St Louis in said County, on the twenty first
day of November instant, then and there to do, Submit
and receive, whatsover we shall consider, in that behalf
Witness over hands and Seals this 20th day of November
A.D. 1831

Patrick Walsh P Ferguson

26

31

25

82

4

248

31-

13

31

25

19

3

207

25.87

Wright

writ HabeasCorpus

The within named John a Colored
boy is not forced in my county
20th nov 1831

St Louis Circuit Court
March Term 1832

And the said defendant by
his attorney comes & defends the force &
injury when &.C. & says he is not guilty of the griev
ances above in said declaration laid to his charge &
in manner & from as the said plaintiff hath above
alleged & of this he puts himself upon the county
&.C.

filed March 27th 1832J.
atty for A Gamble Clk

And the plaintiff the like

S.W.
atty

No 6 March Term 1832
St Louis, Circuit Court

John
vs
Wm Campbell

plea
not guilty

attyFiled March 27h 1832 A Gamble Clk

Submission & Judgment for plaintiff Book 6 page 477

25

578

25

12

118

576

County Of St. Louis Sct.
State of Missouri ,To the Sheriff of St. Louis CountyGreeting.

You Are Hereby Commanded To Summon Clayton Tiffin & Eliza Tiffin
that setting aide all manner of excuse and delay, they be and appear in proper person
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on the Sixth day of August next
at the City of St. Louis , then and there to testify and the truth to a in a certain matter of
controversy now pending in our said Court, wherein John is
plaintiff, and William Campbell
is defendant, on the part of the plaintiff
and have you then there this writ.

Witness: Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit Court ,
at the City of St. Louis , this Thirteenth day of
July in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-two Archibald Gamble Clerk C. C.

July Term 1832

John
vs
William Campbell

for plaintiff Clayton Tiffin 16
Elza Tiffin 21on 6th august

Executed this writ on Clayton
Tiffin the 16th, on Eliza
Tiffin the 21st day
of July 1832 in the city
of St. Louis

John K . Walker
Sheriff Service $1.00

vs

William Campbell or his
attorney Spalding will take notice that
I will on Saturday the fourteenth Instant between
the hours of Eight O. clock in the morning and
six o clock in the evening of said day at the
office of John CEsq in the Town and state
of Illinois and County of St to
take the deposition of witness to be read in
evidance we the above case on the part of the
plaintiff

St Louis July 9th 1832 John
By his attorney
WForeman

John
vs
Wm Campbell
Notice
to take
Deposition

a true copy of this
notice was delivered
to Josiah Spalding
in the city of St Louis
on the 9th day of July
1832 William Campbell
not found

John R Walker Shff
by J Brotherton Service 50 Cts

County Of St. Louis , Sct.
State of Missouri ,To any Judge or Justice of the Peace of The State of Illinois .
--Greeting.

We, reposing special trust and confidence in your intergrity and circumpection, do require and command you that you cause
to come before you such person or persons as shall be named to you by John (a boy of color) or by William
Campbell their attorney or agent, and him or them examine upon
his, her or their corporal oath (to be by you administered) touching their knowledge of any thing that may relate to a certain matter
of controversy, now pending in our Circuit Court , for the county of St. Louis , wherein John is
plaintiff and William Campbell is
defendant on the part of the Plaintiff and having so reduced the said depositions so taken by
you as aforesaid into writing, you are required to send the same, together with this commission, enclosed under your seal, to our
said Circuit Court , with all convenient speed.

Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit Court , at the City of St .
Louis , this Ninth day of July in the year
of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two Archibald Gamble Clerk, C.C.

State of Illinois St Clain County July 14th 1832

Depositions of witness produced sworn and examined at my
office in the town of Illinois in the County of St. Clair
and State of Illinois before me John C. Smith an
acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County
in a certain case now depending in the Circuit Court
of St. Louis County & State of Missouri wherein John
(a boy of Color) is plaintiff & William Campbell
is defendant on the part of the plaintiff
Francis of lawful age being produced sworn
and examined on the part of the plaintiff deposeth and
sayeth as follow to writ

question By plaintiff
Doe you no whare Suset the mother of John
a boy of was born

Anwer yes she was born in St . Gineveave in the teritory of
Missouri now state of Missouri

Question doe you no how she came to this state

Answer yes she was brought to this state by my farther
Nicholas Garett he receved her as a part of his legesee from
my Grandmother Beauvois and John was born in this state
and never was thaut to be a slave any longer than until
he was twenty one year old Suset was sold at my
farthers sale in 1820 as well as I recolect and Robert
McCracker bought them and sold them Suset & John
to Louis Pensino Senior

Question did you see this boy John the sun of Suset in the
posesion of William Campbell in County state
of Illinois

Anwer - I saw John in the posesian of William Campbell
at galina County State of
Illinois and William Campbell told me that he had bought
him John and asked me if John was a slave for life
I told him that he was not

Question What time was it that you saw John the Son
of Suset in the posesion of Campbell

Answer I saw John in Campbells posesion in Jodavis
County in the State of Illinois in the year 1830
and further this deponant sayeth
Town of Illinois July 14th day 1832

Francis

I John C. Smith an acting Justice of the peace for
St. Clair County State of Illinois , doe hereby certify
that Francis the deponent was by me sworn
to testify the whole truth of his knowledge
hing The in controversy in the cause afor
said that deponent was examined and his examination
reduced to writing and subscribed by
said deponant in my presence on the 14th day
of July in the year eighteen hundred and
thirty two between the hours of 10 o clock in the
forenoon and six of the afternoon at the town
of Illinois in the county of St. Clair State of
Illinois given & certified the 16th day of July 1832.

John C. Smith J. P.

State Of Illinois ,
St. Clair County , Ss.

I John Hay , Clerk of the County Commisioners' Court of the
said county of St. Clair , (and ex officio recorder of civil Commisions,)
do hereby certify, that John C Smith Esquire, the person
whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate was at the time of executing the same, an
acting Justice of the Peace of said county, duly commisioned and qualified, and to all such his official
acts, full faith and credit are and ought to be given.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said County
at Belleville , this Seventeenth day of July
in the year of our Lord, Eighteen hundred and thirty two
and of the Independence of the United States of America , the fifty-seventh John Hay

Jn .
vs
Wm Campbell
Depos for

John a boy of color
vs
William Campbell

Deposition
for plaintiff
Archibald Gamble Clerks of the
St Louis Circuit Court Missouri

Filed & opened 23rd July
1832

Archibald Gamble Clerk

John
vs
Wm. Campbell

Francis Jarot
Deposition for plff

County Of St. Louis Sct.
State of Missouri ,To the Sheriff of St. Louis CountyGreeting.

You Are Hereby Commanded To Summon Clayton Tiffin and Eliza Tiffin
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, they be and appear in proper person
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on the Twelfth day of Decembernext
at the City of St. Louis , then and there to testify and the truth to say in a certain matter of
controversy now pending in our said Court, wherein John is
plaintiff, and William Campbell
is defendant, on the part of the plaintiff
and have you then there this writ.

Witness: Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit Court ,
at the City of St. Louis , this Sixth day of
November in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-two Archibald Gamble Clerk C.C.

November Term 1832

John
vs
William Campbell

for plff Clayton Tiffin
Eliza Tiffin on 12th Dec

Executed this writ on Clayton
Tiffin on 12th of Nov 1832 (not served
on the Tiffin )

John K . Walker Shff
by S. D. Service - 50
M. E. 12
62 1/2

County Of St. Louis --Sct.
State of Missouri ,To the Sheriff of St. Louis County--Greeting.

You are hereby commanded to summon Clayton Tiffin - Eliza Tiffin
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, they be and appear in proper person before the
Judge of our Circuit Court , on the 5th day of Aprilnext
at the City of St. Louis , then and there to testify and the truth to say, in a certain matter of controversy
now pending in our said Court, wherein John is
plaintiff, and William Campbell is
defendant, on the part of the plaintiff
and have you then there this writ.

Witness: Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit Court , at the City of
St. Louis , this 26th day of February
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three Archibald Gamble Clerk C.C.

March Term 1833

John
vs
William Campbell

for plaintiff Clayton Tiffin
Eliza Tiffin on 5h April

Executed this writ on Clayton Tiffin on
the 1st day of March 1833 in St. Louis
Eliza Tiffin not summoned by order of
S.W. Foreman attorney for plaintiff

John K Walker Shff
by J. Brosh Service 50

County Of St. Louis , Sct.
State of Missouri ,To the Sheriff of St. Louis County,
--Greeting.

We command you to attach Clayton Tiffin
by his body, and him safely keep, so that you have his body before
the Judge of our Circuit Court , now in session at the City of St. Louis , within and for the County of St. Louis ,
forthwith 183, then and there to testify and the truth to say in a
certain matter of controversy, now pending in our said Circuit Court , between John
plaintiff and Wm Complete
defendant, wherein the said Clayton Tiffin has
heretofore been summoned on the part of the said plaintiff

Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit Court , at the City of St .
Louis , this 22nd day of april in the year
of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three A Gamble Clerk C.C.

Executed this
writ & have the
by of Clayton
Tiffin in open
Court 23d of
April 1833

John K Walker
ShffService of $ 1.00

Jno
vs
Wm Campbell

Attachment
for Clayton tiffin
Costs to abide
Suit